Page 128 of Bride of Fire
But she felt the walls rapidly closing in. Morgan was getting too close to the truth. And like a stubborn hound, he wouldn’t let go of the bone between his teeth, the bone that cursed wench had handed him.
Morgan continued to pressure her. “So I’m guessin’ Lionel had help. How many were there? One? Two? Three extra men?”
She licked her lips. “I…I don’t remember.”
He nodded, but she could see the doubt in his eyes.
She pressed her fingers to her brow. “I think…I think I may have fainted.”
“But when ye roused… I mean, it must have taken a fortnight to travel all that way.”
Damn Morgan! His dogged persistence sent a bolt of rage through her. He’d backed her into a corner. Even her usual attempts to elicit protectiveness in him weren’t working.
But like a cornered cat, her best defense was a strong offense. It was time to unsheathe her claws and bare her teeth.
“I don’t remember, Morgan!” she burst out tearfully. “And ’tis cruel of you to make me try. That wretched woman has turned you against me. Your own wife. The mother of your child. How could you?”
To her horror, not a muscle moved in Morgan’s face. For the first time in her life, he was completely indifferent to her suffering. And that frightened her more than she cared to admit.
She wanted this life back. She wanted to be Morgan’s wife again. She wanted the prestige. And the wealth. And the power.
But if she couldn’t rely on his compassion and his protection, there was a chance she could get tangled in the web of her lies. And that meant there was a chance Morgan would uncover her two murders, despite her giving him a false name.
It was all that bloody wench’s fault.
She turned her rage on Morgan. “You told me you’d sent that witch away. You lied to me.”
Morgan’s brows collided. “I said I’d taken care of it.” Then his mouth twisted. “But I can’t send her away.”
She blinked. “What? Why?”
“’Tis a matter of honor,” he said. “I vowed to keep her here, under my protection.”
Her eyes flattened. Honor. Of course. It was his stupid honor that made Morgan so predictable. And so easy to play.
“And you won’t break that vow? Even for me?”
She already knew the answer.
“I cannot.”
“Cannot?” she asked. “Or will not?”
“Ye know they’re the same thing.”
Alicia felt her stomach coil as her best laid plans went rapidly awry. Nonetheless, she made one final, desperate effort to cling to what she had. Crossing her arms in challenge and proudly raising her chin, she delivered an ultimatum. “’Tis either her or me.”
Morgan’s face turned to stone. “Don’t do this, Alicia.”
She’d finally found a foothold. And she’d be damned if she was going to budge.
Morgan moved one hand up to hold the back of the infant’s head. “If ye leave, I won’t let ye take the bairn.”
She’d never wanted the child in the first place. But she was sure Morgan was only bluffing. Trying to manipulate her. “Her. Or me.”
“Ye’d leave your own child?”
“You’re giving me no choice.”
